Sponsor of the Month: Ace Hardware Umatilla
CARTER’S ACE HARDWARE is committed to providing solutions to our customers, community, and associates with honesty and integrity. This year we are excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, right here in Umatilla, as a house sponsor in their Veterans Village!
Local, family-owned businesses are the heart of Lake County. Roy Carter and his family have owned and operated various stores dating back to 1964, the year that he and his business partner Ken Reutebuch purchased Tavares Ace Hardware. They established a goal to provide customers with the highest level of service and quality products at competitive prices.
This business philosophy worked quite well, and today Roy and his son, Cadie Carter, are owners of six Ace Hardware stores in Lake County, one in Apopka, and now one in Beverly Hills. Despite the fact that several big-box hardware stores have opened locally in the past few years, the Carters have seen a steady increase of business at each location.
We have been established here for over 40 years. People know us, and if we weren`t doing a good job we wouldn`t have been here for so long. Customers have been very loyal to us throughout the years, and we`ve always done our best to take care of them. That has been our goal from the start.
We`ve had an increase in business at all locations, and our employees bend over backwards to make people happy. Our staff does not specialize in just one area; they are trained to learn about every aspect of the business to help customers with their project and hardware needs.
In 1978, Roy purchased Umatilla Ace Hardware, which is now in its third location and managed by his son-in-law, Chuck Wilson, who is part owner and vice-president. The 15,000 square-foot facility features a full-sized lumberyard and is also home to Umatilla Antique Market and Bookstore, which is owned by Roy`s wife, Deloris. Roy purchased Bronson Ace Hardware in Eustis in 1990. Cadie Carter purchased Mount Dora Ace Hardware in 1994 and opened South Leesburg Ace Hardware in 2003. The Apopka Ace Hardware was purchased in 2005. Cadie moved the Tavares Ace Hardware store to a new 10,000 square-foot facility on S.R.19 (Duncan Drive) and Palm Street in Tavares.
Every month Cadie, Chuck, and our General Manager (who is also Cadie’s son-in-law) Matt Matulia meet with Ace Hardware owners throughout Central Florida to exchange strategies. Oftentimes, customers tell us that they find items at one of our stores that they couldn`t find anywhere else.
The Carters` business success stems from their hardworking, faithful team of employees. The employees really helped carry on the tradition and are a big asset to this family business.